Massaging device



Jy NM. H. FLExssNER 2.243525 Y MAssAGIr-G DEVICE l Filed oct. 12,1938 Y /37 WMM,-

Patented July 8, 1941 MASSAGING DEVICE Heinrich Fleissner, Augsburg, Germany application October 12, 1938, Serial No. 234,510 In Germany October 13, 1937 (Cl. 12S-60) 1 Claim.

The invention relates to massaging devices especially suitable for massaging the skin covering the top of the human skull. In known devices of this kind, massaging balls which are linked together by means of springs are fastened to a ring. The effect of these massaging balls is however very slight as, at least theoretically, they touch the skin only in spots and massage is therefore restricted to the relatively small areas where they actually contact. Devices of this description are also very bulky. Massaging devices with comb-like elastic massaging members are also known which consist of, in two rows on a plate oppositely disposed elastic massaging or gans provided with knobs, which n being pressed againstl the skin seize and engage the same. Devices of this kind squeeze and pinch the skin; they are therefore not applicable in cases where stroke-massage is indicated.

The invention relatesI to massaging devices with comb-like elastic massaging members. According to the invention the massaging of the skin is elfected by the contiguous coils of a spiral spring stretched between the ends of a bow,

which coils when in use directly contact with the skin. If the device is passed, comb-like, over the skull, the spring pushes the skin like a wave before it; the skin will thus be relaxed and slackened, then slightly pressed and finally stretched again so that it will be thoroughly kneaded. Especially efficient is a device having a number of springs which knead every spot of the skin several times in succession. The massaging device may be used not only for massaging the head but also for massaging other parts of the body, particularly the limbs.

The drawing shows by way of example several preferred forms of the massaging device according to the invention.

Fig. 1 is a side View of the device having a single spring;

Fig. 2 is a view of the device having three springs, as seen from below;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the device without a handle.

To the ends I and 2 of the comb-like bow 3, springs 4 are exchangeably fastened. The

springs 4 consist of spirally twisted wire having at its ends 5 knob-like excrescences, for instance, balls 6. 'I'he ends of the spring 5 and the balls 6 need not be formed of the wire of the spring itself, but may be made separately and fixed to the spring afterwards. The springs arerin a state of tension hung into the bow 3. The ends 5 ofV the spring protrude through slots 1 in the ends I and 2 of the bow, and the balls 6 consequently rest against the outsides' of the ends l and 2 o' the bow. The tension oi the springs prevents them slipping out of the bow 3.

The massaging members may be simply attached to the bow itself, as shown in Fig. 4, or to a special handle 8, as shown in Figs'. 1 and 2.

In the massaging device according to Figs. 2 and 3, the ends l and 2 of the bow are shieldlike and provided each with three slots so that three springs may be accommodated. Agreeably to the purpose the slots 'l are in this case disposed in such a way that the axis of the three springs will not lie in one and the same plane; the special advantage of this arrangement being that even in case the device be not held strictly vertical to the surface to be treated, at least two of the springs will come in contact therewith.

The bow may be made of synthetic resin, galalith, ebonite, wood, Celluloid, light metal or any other like suitable material, while the springs, for sanitary reasons, will preferably be nickel or chromium. plated.

Especial advantages of the massaging device described are the simple mode of manufacture and the easy handling thereof.

I claim:

A device for massaging the human flesh, including, in combination, an arched frame in the form of a comb-like bow having arms whose ends are curved outwardly to provide concave seat portions located inwardly of the tips of the ends, said arms having slots disposed longitudinally thereof and extending inwardly from the tips of the ends to a point within the zone of said concave seat portions, a coil spring removable and replaceable in the frame and having straight opposite axial ends, terminal balls at the extremities of said axial ends, said axial ends being insertable in said slots from the open end thereof whereby the terminal balls rest in the said concave seat portions thereby releasably to hold the spring assembled to the arms of the frame, the said spring being rotatable on said axial ends in the slots so that the spring may roll when the device is manipulated over the human flesh.

HEINRICH FLEISSNER. 

